At Succulence garden and home store, which recently expanded to include a classroom, you can learn to construct terrariums and vertical gardens.

At Succulence garden and home store, which recently expanded to include a classroom, you can learn to construct terrariums and vertical gardens.

Photo: Courtesy Ken Shelf

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Learn to make an alphabet garland at Lilikoi Design + Letterpress' holiday workshop.

Learn to make an alphabet garland at Lilikoi Design + Letterpress' holiday workshop.

Photo: Courtesy Andria Sato

Do-it-yourself for the holidays

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We know, we know. There's barely enough time to address the holiday gift list, much less break for some do-it-yourself merriment. Why not escape the seasonal grind with a twofer that crosses a holiday chore off your to-do list? There's an opportunity to conquer a little bit of everything from the piecrust to the dining room table centerpiece as well as sweet hostess gifts, spa-inspired stocking stuffers and plenty more.

WorkshopSF

There's really no foolproof way to evade chocolate this time of year, so we might as well succumb to this sweet vice. In WorkshopSF's DIY Desserts Workshop, learn to whip up chocolate truffles and assorted chocolate-dipped goodies. Baking instructor Emily Guzzardi of Batch (batchbaking.com) will fill hungry minds with chocolate fundamentals. Finally, accessorize your box o' truffles with toppings such as coconut, chopped nuts and cocoa powder. Bring along other chocolate-worthy edibles to dip into the chocolate cauldron for your own twist on holiday treats. Hours: 8-10 p.m. Tues. Cost: $44.

Bath and body products consistently top the list as great last-minute, inexpensive gifts. Now you can learn to impart a more personal touch to these gifts at WorkshopSF's DIY Home Spa class. Nicole Stevenson (who, among other things, is co-organizer of Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival) will demonstrate how to create natural body and skin care products, from salt and sugar scrubs to bath salt sachets, lip balm, lip gloss, essential oil spritzers and clear glycerin soap. Ingredients are organic, natural and easy-to-find components, so the process can be easily repeated at home. Stevenson will even supply vintage, modern and collage packaging materials. Students will make all of the above and also take home a booklet with instructions and ingredients. Hours: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 9. Cost: $48. WorkshopSF, 1798 McAllister St., S.F. Register for both workshops at workshopsf.org.

Lilikoi Design + Letterpress

Craft a whole new way to display holiday cheer at the alphabet garland class taught by Andria Sato of Lilikoi Design + Letterpress. The class begins with a tutorial in letterpress, followed by the chance to string together 4-by-6 letters with ribbon into a festive phrase. Workshops are 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 and 12, 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 15 at 171 Lily St., S.F. Cost: $40 per person. To register, call (562) 972-1502 or e-mail hello@lilikoi-design.com.

Pot + Pantry

Whoever said anything is as easy as pie must have been using a frozen crust. Not to worry, you'll skip right on past the frozen food aisle after a piecrust lesson from Natalie Galatzer of Bike Basket Pies at Pot +Pantry. The class kicks off with pie tasting over a chat about lard versus butter and shortening crusts. Students will dive into their own dough as Galatzer shares her best tips and tricks for getting it right. Everyone takes home a recipe booklet and a pie blender so they can re-create the perfect pie at home. Hours: 7-8:30 p.m. Thurs. and Dec. 12. Pot + Pantry, 593 Guerrero St., S.F. Cost: $40. Register at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/299170.

Flora Grubb Gardens

Want to dish up some green eye candy this season? Fill the centerpiece void with some advice from Flora Grubb's garden-design specialist Patrick Lannan on composing artful succulent dishes. Or learn how to decorate with air plants from tillandsia air plants expert Zenaida Sengo. Put these dainty little plants to work as part of living wreaths, vertical gardens, living sculptures and mini-living worlds. Succulent Make and Give classes are 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 23. Tillandsia Make and Give is 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 and Dec. 22. 1634 Jerrold Ave., S.F. Classes are free and no registration is required. Call (415) 626-7256 or go to www.floragrubb.com/florasblog/?p=5046

Succulence

Partake in a little DIY therapy while you make a gift for the green thumb on your list. At Succulence garden and home store, which recently expanded to include a classroom, you can learn to construct terrariums and vertical gardens. In the terrarium class, owner Ken Shelf will share basics, including how to use various vessels, which plants and nonliving materials to use and how to layer it all properly for watering and absorption. All participants will make and take home a globe terrarium. Or try your hand at a small vertical garden. In this workshop, Shelf will discuss how to use found objects to display vertical gardens. Students will learn the basic structure and build their own version from a metal bird feeder. Terrarium building from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Vertical Gardening DIY from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13, at Succulence, 402 Cortland Ave., S.F. Cost: $60. Register by calling (415) 282-2212.

Makeshift Society

Think of Makeshift Society's lino-block carving bee as a modern take on a good old-fashioned quilting bee. This chatty get-together starts with a demonstration on carving linoleum blocks for printing, which means it's suitable for both newbies and lino hotshots. Lino blocking is basically the practice of utilizing special tools to carve an image into a piece of linoleum and mounting it to a wood block. The bee focuses on the carving aspect, but participants will learn techniques they can use later to apply the inked printing block to both paper and fabric. This form of relief printing will come in especially handy this time of year. Employ it to gift tags, cocktail napkins, bunting, greeting cards and place cards. Supplies (carving tools, wood blocks and linoleum) can be purchased in advance at art stores. Because of time constraints, first-timers should bring a small block, no larger than 5 by 5 inches. Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 8 at Makeshift Society, 235 Gough St., S.F. Cost: $20. Register at makeshiftsociety.com.